Florida Man Charged with Filing False Claims for Tax Refunds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2012

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), announced that defendant Paul F. Wrubleski was indicted on one count of corruptly impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws and four counts of filing false claims for tax refunds. Wrubleski made his initial appearance in court earlier today in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. A pre-trial detention hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, 2012, at 11a.m. in Fort Lauderdale.

According to the five-count indictment, Wrubleski impeded the IRS by filing W-4s that falsely claimed he was exempt from income tax withholding, and filing tax returns, including four tax returns that falsely requested more than $1.5 million in tax refunds. Wrubleski also allegedly sent obstructive letters, tax returns, and other false documents to the IRS between 1999 and 2010. In addition, the indictment alleges that Wrubleski filed for bankruptcy in 2006 to impede IRS collection actions.

If convicted on all counts, Wrubleski faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of 23 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,250,000.

This case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Charles Edgar, Jr. and Jed Silversmith of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/tax.

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.